It is a chilly 29°F where I live in northern Utah on New Year’s Day 2021 and from my living room window I can see that it is foggy outside. I’m so glad to put 2020 in my rear view mirror. It was a rough year.
I’m looking forward to seeing my first bird of 2021 and will be anxious to see what species I raise my lens for the first time in 2021.
First Birds Seen In The Recent Past
In both 2019 and 2020 the first birds I saw were American Crows. In 2020 I saw the crows in the parking lot of my local grocery store when I drove there to get a cheese bagel. In 2018 it was a Black-billed Magpie I saw and heard outside my door. For three years in a row the first birds I saw in the new year were intelligent and fascinating corvids.
First Birds Photographed In The Recent Past
Canada Goose on New Year’s Day 2020
In 2020 the first bird I raised my lens for was an adult Canada Goose in flight at my local pond on a foggy, dreary New Year’s Day. I could wish that I had had better light that morning and that the first bird I raised my lens for was something less common than an Canada Goose. I am passionate about all birds in all kinds of conditions so this goose made my day.
Bathing Pied-billed Grebe on New Year’s Day 2019
In 2019 the first bird I raised my lens for was a cute Pied-billed Grebe taking a New Year’s Day bath. It splashed water all over the place and then settled down to preen.
Canada Goose portrait on New Year’s Day 2018
In 2018 the first bird I photographed was another Canada Goose. The goose was so close to me that I opted to take portraits of it.
I see a trend of corvids for the first bird seen for the year and waterbirds as the first photographed.
I still don’t know what the first bird is that I will see and what the first bird is that I will photograph in 2021 because it is still dark outside or what birds I will photograph throughout this year. I do know that the birds I will see this year will amaze, delight and enchant me because that is what birds do for me. Every day of the year.
Happy New Year. May it be ever so much better than 2020 was.
Life is good.
Mia
Happy New Year Mia. I am so grateful for your posts and the joy you spread all year round. I hope 2021 provides an opportunity to visit your neck of the woods.
around the time that it is foggy, do you get hoar frost? I like the birds you have captured, and curious to see what your first bird for this year is.
Jane, when I first moved to Utah in 2009 I could count on seeing hoar frost at Farmington Bay WMA, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, along the causeway to Antelope Island and a whole lot of other places practically every time I went out shooting in the winter but the last several winters it is rare to see it and I honestly don’t know why. It makes me sad not to see it now.
Happy New Year, Mia! Thank you for the daily dose of beauty!
Happy New Year, Mia.
I wish I had a car, I heard it was foggy this morning. I love to photograph and hike in fog. Nate is worried it might be my alternator, that would mean even longer carless!
Happy, healthy, birding New Year to you Mia.
Happy New Year! My first birds were House Sparrows at my feeder. My first birds in the “wild” were Canada Geese and Mallards.
Happy New year to you’s! Love these photo’s of different years! It is in 40’s this AM and on 2nd will be 70’s! Crazy here in Va. My first birds today is a flock of Sparrows! The Chickadee and Titmouse! The Spray to keep the squirrels away is working ! Yeah! Have a great day! mom
Happy New Year to you too.
And thank you for the marvelous photos and information you gave. I have learned a lot.
Happy New Year to you from sunny Florida were we will have a beautiful day in the 80”s. Hoping for a better year. Always enjoy your site.
Your posts have been a welcome bright spot every day during a difficult year. I look forward to sharing this new year with you! Through your wonderful work. Thank you and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Mia, stay healthy, shoot well, have a great year!!